Attachment for automobile radiators



Jame 24 l924.-

' A. E. BARNETT ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILE muons Fi led Aug. 11 1923 Patented June 24-, 1924.

ALLEN E. BARNETT, F PRINCETON, MISSOURI.

ATTACHMENT FOB AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR/S.

Application filed August 11, 1923. Serial No. 656,973.

To all whom 2'2. may concern.

Be it known that I, ALLEN E. BARNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Princeton, in the county of Mercer and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Automobile Radiators, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto {the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to attachments for automobile radiators and more particularly to a filling cap therefor.

An important object of this invention is to provide a device of this character of such construction that the radiator may be read ily filled-without spilling water upon the radiator and hood of the engine and which at the same time will present a pleasing appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a filling cap a construction such that when the cap is open to permit the in sertion of water to the radiator the upper end of the drain pipe ofthe radiator is closed to prevent water which is being placed in'the radiator from passing therethrough to the ground.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a filler cap constructed in accordance with my invention in position upon a radiator;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the cap on the line 22 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 shows a slightly modified form of construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the upper reservoir of a radiator and 11 the filling opening thereof. As is usual, this filling opening is threaded for the reception of a closure cap. My cap consists of a neck 12,

threaded for engagement in the filling opening, and a body portion 13 carried by the upper end of this extension.

The body portion 13 of the filler cap is preferably circular or substantially circular in cross section. When circular in cross section the head will be positioned upon the neck 12, as indicated in Figure 4. Where the head or body portion 13 is positioned centrally upon the neck the rear face thereof must be flattened, as indicated at 14, to admit passage of the hood cover of the machlne when removing or applying the same. The head 13 is transversely elongated, being elliptical in form when viewed in plan or front elevation. This head is hollow and is 7 formed in two sections 15 and 16, coinprising a base which is substantially three-quargters elliptical, the opening being arranged at the upper forward side thereof and exis tending across the entire length, the cap 16 completing the structure and closing the opening. This cap is'hinged at its upper edge to the base, as indicated at 17, and is provided at its lower edge with a catch 18 e by means of which it is held in closed position. Particular attention is directed to the positioning of the opening of the base formed by swinging the cap 16. It will be noted that this opening, since it extends the full length of the head, is relatively broad and accordingly will accommodate a bucket or other implement. employed in transferring water to the radiator. It will further be noted that the rear of the opening is provided with an upstanding wall or flange preventing water from being splashed on the hood 15. In fact the head, when broadly considered, consists of a trough having at its rear edge a flange and a cap pivoted to this flange for closing the trough.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, practically all automobile radiators are provided with an overflow pipe 19 for limiting the high level of water in the radiator. The open mouth of this overflow pipe usually projects into the lower end of the] neck 20 in which the filling opening 11 is formed. Accordingly when water is delivered to the filling opening a portion of this water ordinarily enters the open upper end of the overflow pipe and passes therethrough to the ground, often splashing upon the legs of the person who is filling the radiator. In order to prevent this waste of water I pivot in the base 15, as at 21, a lever 22 which extends transversely of the base and has one end positioned immediately above the open upper end of the filler pipe 19. To this end, as at 23, is pivoted a stem, the lower end of which extends into the filler pipe. Secured to this stem is a washer or valve 24, which when the lever is relieved rests upon and closes the uppcr'end of the filler pipe. The opposite end of the lever extends adjacent the end 25 of the base and when the lever is relieved projects above the edge of the opening of the base. The lid 16 bears a trip member 26, which during closure of the lid engages the end 25 of the lever to depress the same and thereby elevate the opposite end of the lever with the stem 23 to lift the valve '24: front the ripper end of the overflow pipe 19 and thereb permit the overflow pipe to function in the usual manner. k

I have additionally discovered that with the use of such extension filling necks there is a tendency to trap'air in the lower end of the neck 20 of the reservoir, with the result that the water in-entering the radiator "g'urgles and has a tendency to splash as the air passes upwardly therethrough. In order to prevent this I provide 'a vent pipe 27 having its lower end positioned adjacent' the lower 1 end of'the neck 20 of the radiator 10 and its upper end opening through theupper end or flange ofthe base portion, as indicated at '28; Through this vent pipe trapped air may pass permitting the water to pass smoothly into the "radiator-and preventingsuch splashing. ,Itwill be seen that the features hereinbe'toie set forth combine to provide a radiator and filling cap whieh is siniple in its construction and rran ement but which assists niateria lly in filling the radiator in that it prevents splashing ahd'loss of the water and peritiits the use of larger mouthed vessels for transporting the water than heretofore practical. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction hereinbetore set forth is capable of some change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit'myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim l. The combination with a radiator reservoir having a filling neck and an overflow pipe for the reservoir having its upper end extending into the filling neclgof a filling cap engaged with the filling neck having a funnel body, a closure cap for the funnel body, a valve normally closing the upper end of the vent pipe, and means operated by the closing of the closure cap for opening said valve.

2. The combination with a radiator reservoir having a filling neck and an overflow pipe for the reservoir having its upper end extending into the filling neck, of a filling cap engaged with the filling neck having a funnel body, closure cap for the funnel body, a valve normally closing the upper end of the vent pipe, 'i'neans operat'ed by the closing of the closure cap for opening said valve, including a level."

pivoted intermediate its end within said funnel hody'and having one end extending over and secured to said valve, and means carried by said cap for engaging the opposite end of the lever.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

i LDEN E. BARNETT. 

